Sunday afternoon, KARK/KLRT’s Jocelyn Tovar inerviewed Mike Fritts, who was trapped inside of Thursday’s wildfire.

As the report states, Mike will get to meet Ms. Gail and other emergency staff members, which he credits with saving his life, today, in a meeting set up by MLive.

Check back later for that video.

After serving the City of Monticello for 30 years, Kimberly Fletcher retired, Friday.

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T‘he City Council officially voted to close a portion of West Pauline Street, at their meeting.

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Monticello Police recently posted their “3 Most Wanted” suspects.

Thanks to the Drew County Sheriff’s Dept, their second suspect (accused of the theft of 2 City of Monticello trucks) in custody.

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At their last meeting, the Mayor addressed the Council about the possible construction of two roads with a grant from the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department. These roads would run from North Scogin Drive to Hwy. 278 and from Hwy. 278 to Barkada Road, for the purpose of reducing traffic congestion.

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On July 11 the City Council held a special meeting at which Brian Woodring with Utility Services, Inc., presented a proposal to repair the city’s water towers for a cost of approximately $500,000. Their proposal would repair the water towers and establish a service contract, which would allow the City to pay the project out over a five year period as well as keep the tanks maintained.

Here’s the full report from that meeting.

The City Attorney reviewed the contract and determined that due to the nature of the services, it would not be necessary to take bids on the work. To comply with all legal requirements, Utilities Services Inc. would be required to provide a bond. They indicated that would not be a problem. They also verified that the contract was drawn up based on the recommendation of licensed engineers. Under the contract, Utilities Services Inc. will be completely responsible for the care and maintenance of the water towers. The Council authorized the City to accept the contract, once it is updated with a bond.

Once the contract is signed, work will begin with the Burlington water tower in early Fall of this year. Burlington water tower has not been painted or refurbished since 1981.

The City Council also discussed, at their recent special called meeting, new road construction to alleviate traffic congestion in the areas between Drew Memorial Hospital and Barkada Road. The City had applied for a $1 million road improvement grant from the federal government through the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department.

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Joe Meeks, Ward 3 Position 2 Alderman, announced the creation of a Facebook page to enhance public awareness of current issues in the City.

Meeks told MLive, “I feel Facebook can be used as an effective tool to engage our community. When I ran for City Council, it was on a platform of transparency and openness to connect with citizens, to really be out there and easy to reach. The opportunities that social media can create through its inexpensive and widespread use are endless. By helping gather public opinion, feedback, ideas, and feeding these back to those responsible for the policy-making process, it can help rejuvenate direct democracy.”

You can like the page by visiting www.facebook.com/monticelloward3.

The City Council called a special meeting, recently, to discuss water tank repairs on the Burlington Tank on HWY 278 East.

The Burlington water tower’s repair issues have been an ongoing source of concern for the City of Monticello. Recently Mayor Maxwell contacted Utility Service Co. Inc. about repair and maintenance of the tower. An employee of Utility Service Co. was present at the Council meeting and discussed services the company can offer the City of Monticello.

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A residence on Texas Street had their weekly trash waiting by the road, Tuesday morning.

The containers, however, were marked at “BIO-HAZARD”.

Although it appears to be a simple case of re-using boxes, it wasn’t the best choice of boxes to choose to put your trash in. Not to mention, they’re not the approved city containers.

At last week’s City Council meeting, someone asked about a “sample pipe section” that was on display.

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Proposed phasas of water main replacement project

Samples of current failing water mains

Mayor Alan Maxwell concluded the monthly meeting of the City Council with an update on the City water project. The final cost of the water project, which includes 4,200 meters and approximately 93 miles of water pipes, is $10 million.  Maxwell pointed out that this is a “performance based contract”, which means the city is guaranteed to recover all of its expenses on the project

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 A City of Monticello employee was injured in what likely was a work related accident, Thursday morning, at the Monticello City Warehouse.

After a 10:19 call to 911, he was transferred by ambulance to Drew Memorial Hospital by MASI.

Unconfirmed rumors indicate a vehicle was involved in the situation.

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Tuesday evening at their regularly scheduled monthly meeting, the Monticello City Council reviewed an ordinance that would establish guidelines for owning and controlling dangerous dogs in the City.

The ordinance would not ban any specific breed from the city. It would, however provide requirements for owners of Pit Bulls that go beyond the requirements for owners of other dog breeds.

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According to the information in the chart below, it seems every other city and/or town in southeast Arkansas has lost population, except for Monticello.

The information is from the Census Bureaus’s Population Estimates between the 2010 census and July 1, 2012.

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After several months of being a 2-way stop, the intersection of Cherry and Jackson Streets has now been changed back to a 4-way stop.

The proposed purpose of the original change was due to large trucks using the street.

Be careful of the revised change, til every gets back into the habit of stopping on both streets.

The Jordan Park entrance sign has recently been rebuilt by city employees, following its March destruciton, apparently after being struck by a large vehicle, who left the scene. 

Workers were able to salvage the lettering and most of the brick from March to rebuild hte sign.

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Around 6:00, Sunday morning, a city employee noticed that two Ford F-150 pick-up trucks, with “City of Monticello” decals on the doors, had been stolen from the city warehouse, located between E. McCloy and E. Trotter Streets.

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City offices will be closed on Monday for Memorial Day.

The transfer station will be closed.

Trash route will run on Wednesday.

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After a lengthy “trial ownership”, the city of Monticello has accepted the Mt. Zion Water Association as part of the city’s water dept.

After years of operating on a “handshake agreement”, the county and city will now support the local museum by means of a services contract, like other local organizers receive, for the educational and historic service that the museum provides to county residents, schools, and organizations.

The City Council voted unanimously to pass an ordinance requiring that dumpster pads be installed in front of all dumpsters serviced by the City’s garbage and recycling collection trucks.

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An Ordinance to amend the hours liquor can be served in private clubs in the city limits of Monticello was presented to the City Council at the Council’s meeting Thursday evening.

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The groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction of a Public Rail Access Facility in the MEDC Industrial Park was held Tuesday afternoon.

When completed the new rail spur will hook to the existing (soon to be improved) spur at Hood Packaging, and switch to a rail that will send freight cars into the Industrial Site for loading and unloading of cargo. This will likely begin with lumber.  Currently Price Lumber and occasionally Maxwell Hardwood load rail freight at the Jackson Street crossing.

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The latest improvement at the Monticello Airport, the new hangar that will be leased to the Price Company, has been completed, except for the parking area.

It is expected to be put into use, generating airport income, within the next month.

Eight local business leaders and government officials visited our elected officials in Washington D.C.Tuesday and Wednesday, to discuss our local infrastructure needs.

During their trip, members of the MEDC and 20 for the Future met with Congressman Tom Cotton, Senator Mark Pryor, and Senator John Boozman.

This photo was taken during their meeting with Senator Boozman.

As the former Centerpoint Energy property on N. Chester St. is being cleared out, with the company’s move to the Industrial Site, the property will son belong to the MEDC, in receipt of the land-swap for the gas company’s new worksite.o

The first likely tenant will be contractor’s for the city’s new water system upgrade  project.

The Arkansas Department of Health and the City of Monticello hereby informs residents, especially those on low-sodium and salt-restricted diets, that they should be made aware of the relatively high levels of the sodium in the town’s drinking water so that they can take appropriate measures.

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